US3831882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Guide means for magnetic tapes wound on flangeless spools
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-12
•
Granted: 1974-08-27
•
Expires: 1992-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A guide element for magnetic tapes to be wound in the form of packs on flangeless spools, particularly for tapes in magnetic tape cartridges, which is arranged in a fixed position near the periphery of the pack at maximum pack diameter and provided with a guide surface and guide flanges. Such elements improve guidance of the turn of tape approaching and/or leaving the pack, resulting in a stable and accurate winding on the spool and in undisturbed tape travel.
Inventors
- 👤 N Schaeffer
- 👤 H Fitterer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/08; G11B23/087; G11B23/08707; G11B23/08757
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a magnetic tape cassette including a housing having two parts, a pair of tape-supporting flangeless spools rotatable to unwind tape off a pack on one spool and wind tape onto a pack on the other spool, and guide members around which said tape passes in the form of a loop between the packs, the improvement that said guide members comprise: re-directing guide means located adjacent the front of the cassette, and at least one fixed guide element extending in the plane of rotation of the corresponding pack and along the side thereof between said pack and one of said guide means, and close to the periphery of said pack when said pack is of substantially full diameter, said guide element having a guide face which is perpendicular to said plane of rotation and substantially flat lengthwise of the turn of tape approaching or leaving the pack and which provides direct surface contact between the face and said turn of tape over a substantial length of said face, having adjacent that end of the guide face at which said turn of tape merges with the full diameter pack, a marginal portion which is at least as close to the full diameter pack as said face so that said turn of tape is guided smoothly with respect to said pack at said marginal portion, and having guide flanges extending above and below said turn of tape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a magnetic tape cassette including a housing having two parts, a pair of tape-supporting flangeless spools rotatable to unwind tape off a pack on one spool and wind tape onto a pack on the other spool, and guide members around which said tape passes in the form of a loop between the packs, the improvement that said guide members comprise: re-directing guide means located adjacent the front of the cassette, and at least one fixed guide element extending in the plane of rotation of the corresponding pack and along the side thereof between said pack and one of said guide means, and close to the periphery of said pack when said pack is of substantially full diameter, said guide element having a guide face which is perpendicular to said plane of rotation and substantially flat lengthwise of the turn of tape approaching or leaving the pack and which provides direct surface contact between the face and said turn of tape over a substantial length of said face, having adjacent that end of the guide face at which said turn of tape merges with the full diameter pack, a marginal portion which is at least as close to the full diameter pack as said face so that said turn of tape is guided smoothly with respect to said pack at said marginal portion, and having guide flanges extending above and below said turn of tape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a magnetic tape cassette the improvement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide face of the guide element in the direction of tape motion has a greater effective length than width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a magnetic tape cassette the improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide flanges extend along said guide face beyond the end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a magnetic tape cassette the improvement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide element is formed integrally with at least one of the two parts of the housing by molding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a magnetic tape cassette the improvement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guide element has two cooperating portions, one being molded integrally with the bottom part of the housing and the other portion being molded integrally with the top part of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a magnetic tape cassette including a housing having two parts, a pair of tape-supporting flangeless spools rotatable to unwind tape off a pack on one spool and wind tape onto a pack on the other spool, and guide members around which said tape passes in the form of a loop between the packs, the improvement that said guide members comprise at least one fixed guide element having a guide surface on either side of the tape, said guide element being designed in such a way that at large pack diameters the magnetic tape is in contact with one guide surface and at small pack diameters with the other guide surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a magnetic tape cassette including a housing having two parts, a pair of tape-supporting flangeless spools rotatable to unwind tape off a pack on one spool and wind tape onto a pack on the other spool, and guide members around which said tape passes in the form of a loop between the packs, the improvement that said guide members comprise at least one fixed guide element having a guide surface on either side of the tape, said guide element being designed in such a way that at large pack diameters the magnetic tape is in contact with one guide surface and at small pack diameters with the other guide surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |